The Japan Skating Federation has asked a magazine publishing group to refrain from "overheated" coverage of popular teenage figure skater Miki Ando, one of Japan's medal hopefuls for next year's Winter Olympics, JSF officials said Wednesday.
The JSF sent a written request Tuesday to the Japan Magazine Publishers Association requesting that Ando, 17, and her family be given due consideration in future coverage of the reigning national champion.
The JSF took the unusual step after Japanese media coverage of Ando heated up prior to and after the world championships earlier this month in Moscow. The JSF became concerned that some articles might have invaded her privacy.